New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

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profbrown
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New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

Hello All,

Just picked up a new to me Jeep Wagoneer on what I think is a pretty solid deal considering what all it has. Its a white 1968 Jeep Wagoneer, factory A/C model. I don't know much about the old ones, but this one must have been a loaded option, had the Buick 350 factory, A/C, power rear window. Other than that, idk what options it has. Current drivetrain is stock axles, dana 27 front, dana 44 rear, 4 wheel drum (upgraded to power brakes), Chevy 350 small block, soon to come out ;), a 700r4 overdrive trans, and a dana 20.

The interior was just recently done from the previous owner, as well as the power brakes, and rewiring the headlights, taillights, and turn signals. Probably shouldn't have, but I drove the jeep 60 miles the first night I bought it lol. Lost the battery on the highway headed south in California at night so no lights to speak of at all lol. Swapped in a battery in an autozone parking lot and was on my merry way. Needless to say I am in love with it! And the Fiancé is a fan too! Pictures to come....
1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

Topic author
profbrown
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )
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Stuka
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by Stuka »

Pretty clean looking Waggy.

What are your plans for the engine?
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ

Topic author
profbrown
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Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

Stuka wrote:Pretty clean looking Waggy.

What are your plans for the engine?
Body is straight, and NO rust. Only part of the body that had love in the past was the passenger rear quarter panel, my guess is a blow out or fender bender, but I was only able to tell by getting under it to see the bondo underneath the panel. Someone did that fix and took some time.

Ls swap. 350 is coming out this weekend, and a 5.3 will be going in pretty quickly after. First ls swap so it’ll be fun. Would have been more expensive to rebuild the 350.


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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

Mreuther12
Posts: 84
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2019 10:45 am
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by Mreuther12 »

Awesome looking Waggy! Congrats!


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1970 Wagoneer
- Buick 350 Dauntless V8, TA Performance Stage 1 Intake, Holley Sniper, Holley Hyperspark, Electric Fan, Aluminum Radiator
- 76 J10 D44 w/ OX Lockers Front & Rear

WT Conversion in progress...

madmikex3
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by madmikex3 »

Looks great! I see lots of road trips to come.


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will e
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Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:21 am

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by will e »

Welcome to the board. You will find a lot of great info, some good tech insight and a lot of enthusiasm for your adventure. That's just a flat out good looking rig. I hope you have a lot of fun driving it around while getting smiles and thumbs up!
81 Waggy 'WILL E' Retired
82 Cherokee WT - SOA/SF/high steer/Alcan springs/agr box/Borgeson steering shaft/AMC 401/performer/holley TA/HEI/BeCool/727/ALTAS (2.0/2.72/5.44)/D60 Snofighter(Yukon Zip,hubs,stubs,4.56)/14 Bolt (FF,BF shave, Discs, ARB,Artec Truss)/MTR 37X12.5/Corbeau XRS Baja & 5 point retractable harness/Hella Aux lights/tuffy console/killer32 sliders/Evil Twin bumpers, rack and roll cage/WARN 8000/TT Fabworks steering brace/dual batts/custom TC skid plate/ARB fridge
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Rory
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by Rory »

Any pics of the transfer case? I was going to go the advance adapter route to put my Dana 20 behind the 700R4. Interested in what the front driveshaft clearance is going to look like.
1965 Wagoneer 327/T89/D20 SBC 350/700R4 5.3 in the future!
1974 Cherokee 360/TH400/QT (parts)

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profbrown
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

Rory wrote:Any pics of the transfer case? I was going to go the advance adapter route to put my Dana 20 behind the 700R4. Interested in what the front driveshaft clearance is going to look like.
No pics, but I know it has an adaptor


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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

rocklaurence
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by rocklaurence »

Since your doing a Drive Train swap, I'd consider swapping the axles to post 1980's. That way you'll have better axles/brakes and the option for a NV231/241 transfer case on the driver's side. Very nice start on a Classic Project

Topic author
profbrown
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

rocklaurence wrote:Since your doing a Drive Train swap, I'd consider swapping the axles to post 1980's. That way you'll have better axles/brakes and the option for a NV231/241 transfer case on the driver's side. Very nice start on a Classic Project
Yeah I’m not swapping out the whole drive train lol. Just motor. The 700r4 was in it when I got it and is staying in. My plan is to find a front disc brake dana 44 from a later model Cherokee/wagoneer to put up front then it’ll be beefy enough for me. I won’t be doing any serious wheeling in it. Most of it will be used for snow/rainy conditions where I live, and easy going trails. If I was really wheeling I would have gotten an XJ honeslty. Smaller, more maneuverable, and far more parts availability on the cheap.

Eventually, maybe in 10 years it’ll get a different transfer case and driver side drop swap, but for these tires being 31s, the axles I have are good for now


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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )
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44bz
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Location: Oregon City, OR

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by 44bz »

A later Dana 44 will be six lug so you’ll be mismatched front and rear. You’d also likely have mismatched gearing. Probably easiest to swap both axles at the same time.


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1968 J2000 - AMC 327/T18/D20 (twin stick), stock D44s, 3" body lift, 35x12.50 Goodyear MTRs w/ Kevlar

Topic author
profbrown
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Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

44bz wrote:A later Dana 44 will be six lug so you’ll be mismatched front and rear. You’d also likely have mismatched gearing. Probably easiest to swap both axles at the same time.


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Dang that’s a real bummer.

On a side note, I may be pulling out this 700r4 in favor of a 4l60e.


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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

rocklaurence
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by rocklaurence »

Ouch, I $400 trans controller for the 4L60e is a large investment unless its part of the LS ECM.

Topic author
profbrown
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

rocklaurence wrote:Ouch, I $400 trans controller for the 4L60e is a large investment unless its part of the LS ECM.
Yeah I was looking to go Holley terminator for this ls swap, only think I am throwing the budget out the window for. They have one that can control 4l60es. That was however, before I did more reading. It was early 4l60s not 4l60es that share the same conversion kits to make it mate to the Dana 20 transfer case I have. So back to the original plan, 700r4, drive by cable throttle body, and ls 5.3. Pulling the 350 out this morning, and dropping it off to the buyer who is on my way to get an ls lol


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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

Topic author
profbrown
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

Out with the old. Prepping for the new. Image
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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

Topic author
profbrown
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

Today did some more tinkering. Pulled all 4 shocks off, all were beyond toast. Also, put the tailgate window weather strip in. Was a bit odd, but got it figured out.

Since I got the Jeep the tailgate did not operate. Electric motor was not in the tailgate itself, and I had a couple extra motors the previous owner was collecting. Well, through a moment of stupid luck, I found the pieces I was missing from one of the motors! The gear that spins off the worm gear, and the gear with the post that operates the whole mechanism.

Also, pulled the axle casting numbers off the housings, appears i have factory 3.73 gears, and I’m pretty sure it’s a factory tow package Jeep as well. I plan on swapping the rear diff fluid eventually and I’ll look to see if it’s an open diff or not.

As far as a Dana 44 for the front end with a disc brake set up, what year ranges would work? Would a Chevy Dana 44 front work? I know I’ll deal with axle shafts being different bolt patterns, but just looking to see what would fit since it would be nice to sway to disc and get a stronger front axle than the (assuming here...) weak Dana 27.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )

Topic author
profbrown
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

Motor tear down under way...Image
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )
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1978J10REDWHITE
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Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by 1978J10REDWHITE »

I’ll monitor this LS swap out for later updates.
The engine makes a lot of Power and I wonder how well your transfer case will tolerate that, If you stab it a few times out digging its tires in dirt.
Might be a good source for tell ppl What held up or Not, in the LS swap power train.
Just last eve another person I Met is doing just this LS Swap too.
.

Topic author
profbrown
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Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:26 pm

Re: New to me 1968 Jeep Wagoneer

Post by profbrown »

1978J10REDWHITE wrote:I’ll monitor this LS swap out for later updates.
The engine makes a lot of Power and I wonder how well your transfer case will tolerate that, If you stab it a few times out digging its tires in dirt.
Might be a good source for tell ppl What held up or Not, in the LS swap power train.
Just last eve another person I Met is doing just this LS Swap too.
.
Well, factory this Jeep had the Buick 350. Wasn’t that thing rated for 280 hp abouts and about 330 torque? Thought the Dana 20 was regarded as a strong t case?


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1968 Wagoneer | In the midst on an LS Swap to a 5.3 truck motor
700R4 Trans, Dana 20 T-Case
Sitting on 31s
Dana 44 rear | Dana 27 front (Swapping both to 77/78 Dana 44s from a Wag ;) )
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